Hi everyone,
I’m looking for some advice on behalf of my father, who recently received an NHS penalty charge for claiming free prescriptions while on Universal Credit. The reason given is that his total monthly household income was over the £935 threshold, which he wasn’t aware of at the time.
He was simply asked at the pharmacy whether he receives Universal Credit, and he answered truthfully that he does. The form he signed does not include any details on the threshold. The form didn’t mention anything about an income cap or any additional conditions. He had absolutely no idea there was a limit, and he genuinely thought he was eligible for free prescriptions. If he’d known otherwise, he would have paid.
To give some context:
My father is currently very unwell. He’s been diagnosed with cancer, has had surgery, and is now going through chemotherapy. He’s also dealing with several other health conditions and cannot work.
The only income in their household is from my mother, who supports him and their two young children.
The income that pushed them over the threshold wasn’t his — it was hers, they have a joint UC claim.
This penalty has come as a huge shock, especially during such a stressful time. It would be a big financial burden on them, and he’s really worried about what to do next. He’s always acted in good faith, and this was an honest mistake.
We’ve written an appeal letter explaining the situation (not yet sent), but I’d really appreciate some advice from anyone who’s been through something similar.
A few questions we have:
Has anyone successfully appealed an NHS penalty charge based on good faith or medical hardship?
Is there anything else we should include in the appeal to make it stronger?
My dad made this same declaration on other occasions under the same misunderstanding — is he at risk of getting more fines for past prescriptions?
He’s extremely worried, and we’d be really grateful for any advice or reassurance. Thanks so much in advance for your help.
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